MADRID, 7 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Villarreal begins this Thursday (6:45 p.m.) against the Polish Lech Poznan and as a local their path in the Conference League, a duel that will serve as the first contact with this continental competition and where they will have to assert their status as group favorite, to prolong and transfer to Europe the start of the course so positive that it allows him to be undefeated until now.
The team led by Emery returns to a continental competition after their good work last season, reaching the semifinals of the Champions League. Thus, this Conference League, at least in this first phase, must be a formality for those from Castellón, framed with much inferior rivals.
However, the ‘Yellow Submarine’ is obsessed with transferring its good work at this start of the season to continental competition, as Unai Emery insisted at a press conference. “We only consider being first in the group stage and enjoying ourselves to have the team in a line of demand and confidence that gives us the level that we all want”, he declared in the previous one.
Giving continuity to the positive dynamics of recent weeks would allow the ‘groguets’ to continue building and perfecting their own identity and style that was already synonymous with success last season. Without losing sight of the ability to excite that this competition can generate among Villarreal fans.
Villarreal qualified for this group stage of the Conference League after ‘comfortably’ beating the Croatian Hadduk Split (4-2 and 0-2) in the previous phase, for which they had to advance their preparation, something that now gives its fruits. The team enjoys a good physical level, and the squad enjoys a greater understanding and connection at this start.
And this translates into results, since the ‘Submarino’ is undefeated in these first four days of the League, with three victories against Valladolid (0-3), Atlético (0-2) and Elche (4-0) and a draw (0-0) against Getafe. The great strength at this start was the defensive commitment of the team, with only two goals conceded in six games.
Emery will have the losses of Pepe Reina, Juan Foyth, Alberto Moreno, Arnaut Danjuma and Raúl Albiol, in a call where the youth squad Dela has entered. Rotations are expected in the team, in a way to distribute resources, without losing consistency and without generating two teams for two competitions, according to what the coach assured the media. Mojica and Femenía could have their chance on the wings, to give Pedraza rest and in the face of Foyth’s injury.
Opposite will be the Polish Lech Poznan, who will fight with Austria from Vienna and Hapoel Beer Sheva for second place in a very open group. His start to the season was not positive, although he comes into the match with three consecutive victories in the Polish League.
In European competition, he played in the qualifying phase of the Champions League, but lost to Qarabag, falling to the qualifying phase of the Conference League. He overcame three previous phases against Dinamo Batumi, Vikingur Reykjavik and Dudelange.
